While many who vacation to Florida think of Walt Disney World Resort as the premiere vacation destination, there is another theme park Resort just down the road and quickly growing in popularity — Universal Orlando Resort. I know, itβs not a small theme park and has been popular for a while, but Disney is still at the top of the Florida theme park food chain. However, Universal is working on taking that top spot from Disney — from creating a third theme park, Epic Universe — to making big improvements to its existing Parks, Universal Studios, and Islands of Adventure.
Back in November, the Universal Orlando Resort announced that they would be closing a large area of Universal Studios Park to make way for new improvements to the area. Sadly, it is an area very popular for Guests with younger kids, as it includes Fivel’s Playland, Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster, DreamWorks Destination, and more.
Universal Orlando Resort will soon begin work on bringing exciting new family entertainment to Universal Studios Florida that will immerse guests in the adventures of beloved animated characters. To make way for these new additions, Fievelβs Playland, Woody Woodpeckerβs Nuthouse Coaster, Curious George Goes to Town, DreamWorks Destination and Shrek and Donkeyβs Meet & Greet will close on January 16, 2023 (the last day of operation will be January 15, 2023).
The E.T. Adventure, Animal Actors on Location!, SpongeBob StorePants β including meet and greets with SpongeBob SquarePants and friends β and KidZone Pizza Company will remain open for guests to enjoy.
Stay tuned β more details about the new experience coming to Universal Studios Florida will be revealed in the months ahead. For the latest updates about the destination, visit www.Β UniversalOrlando.com.
Update from Universal Orlando Resort: pic.twitter.com/ecVeEHfvbd
— Universal Orlando Resort (@UniversalORL) November 2, 2022
Well, two months have passed extremely quickly and today is the final day that Guests will be able to enjoy these attractions. Universal has not said if it will move Shrek and Donkey’s Meet & Greet will move to a different area of the Park. We also donβt have a lot of details as to what Universal is planning for the area. Thankfully, Universal did confirm that its iconic E.T. attraction isn’t going anywhere.
We do not know when this new area will be completed, but it will be one more feather in the cap for Universal, which will be serious competition for Disney when Epic Universe opens sometime in 2025. The new theme park will include Super Nintendo World and a rumored third Harry Potter area.